Kerala CM past master at scientific corruption: Cong

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Thiruvananthapuram, June 30 (IANS) Intensifying the war of words, Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala, here on Tuesday, said Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was past master at scientific corruption.

Addressing the media, Chennithala said Kerala had seen a few Communist Chief Ministers, but none could match Vijayan in corrupt deals.

"On Monday, Vijayan criticised me for airing baseless charges. I stand by what I said about corruption in the e-bus project," said Chennithala.

"Not long ago, Vijayan visited Switzerland. He should now come clean if he engaged in discussions with Hess AG, Swiss vehicle manufacturing major, for production of 6,000 e-buses as part of a joint venture with the Kerala Automobiles," said Chennithala. The project was later shot down by then Chief Secretary and the Finance Department, he added.

Vijayan revived it by engaging the London-based Price Waterhouse Coopers (PwC) as the consultant, he said.

"On Monday, Vijayan said PwC was not banned. But it's a black-listed company. The gameplan is clear. To circumvent the rules, PwC has been appointed as consultants. They will now clear the project with the Swiss company and the project will become live, the Congress leader said.

The range of corruption would soon come out, he added.

On Monday, Vijayan said when they were tackling Covid-19, the Leader of Opposition had been levelling baseless allegations of corruption and advised him to do homework before levelling charges.

"Every issues I raised in the past forced Vijayan to change his decision. Vijayan will be remembered as the most corrupt Communist Chief Minister. All know he is a master in first entering into a consultancy and then converting that into an agreement (SNC Lavalin case, which was inked by him in 1997 as the Power Minister)," Chennithala said.

--IANS

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